De Craecker Matrijzen automates a Mazak QTN 30 with a RoboJob Turn-Assist Essential
One of RoboJob’s first customers in Belgium, and years without a single breakdown
De Craecker Matrijzen automates a Mazak QTN 30 with a RoboJob Turn-Assist Essential
De Craecker Matrijzen in Lede, Belgium, has been a name in Flemish mould making for more than 50 years. In 2012, it became one of RoboJob’s first customers in Belgium, with a Turn-Assist Essential on its Mazak QTN 30. In its first nine years, the robot never broke down, and the rare questions were solved by phone.
Key facts
- Company: De Craecker Matrijzen NV
- Location: Lede, East Flanders, Belgium
- Founded: 1968
- Employees: approx. 18
- Industries: Subcontracting, Tooling (moulds)
- RoboJob products: Turn-Assist Essential
- CNC machine brands: Mazak
- Automated machines: Mazak QTN 30
- RoboJob customer since: 2012
- Key results: one of RoboJob’s first customers in Belgium; years without a breakdown; problems solved by phone, without a technician on site
Flemish mould making since 1968
Roger De Craecker founded the company in 1968, building expertise in cutting and bending dies and increasingly in injection moulds. Today, his grandson Tom De Craecker leads the family business in the third generation, with around 18 people. Besides new builds, repairs and revisions of injection, thermoforming and cutting moulds, De Craecker offers milling, turning, surface and cylindrical grinding, wire and sinker EDM and laser welding. Quality, service and innovation remain the core values.
Why automate: a commitment to innovation
“In our company, we are committed to innovation, and we often look for new technology to improve our quality and services. This is how we became one of the first RoboJob customers in Belgium. We were also the very first RoboJob customer to ask for our robot to shuttle between two machines: a Mazak QTN 30 and a Mazak SQT 200 M. We soon had a good click with RoboJob, and appreciated the fact that they helped find solutions with us to meet our needs.”
— Tom De Craecker, Managing Director, De Craecker Matrijzen
A Turn-Assist Essential on a Mazak QTN 30
The RoboJob Turn-Assist Essential was installed in June 2012 on De Craecker’s Mazak lathes. At the time, robots were far less common than today, which made it a big step for the company and its employees. In its first nine years, the robot never broke down. Today, it automates the Mazak QTN 30.
“The robot is also extremely robust. It can - literally - take quite a knock. If someone accidentally steers it into something, we’re able to make it return to the ‘Home’ position at the push of a button, and it’s as if nothing had happened at all. It can just go straight back to work.”
— Tom De Craecker
Service by phone
When an operator sets something up wrong, De Craecker usually solves it with RoboJob’s clear manuals. Once or twice a year, it calls the RoboJob Service Team, and is helped immediately by phone, without waiting for a technician while production stands still.
“Service is extremely important in our sector. We must not only be able to rely on our robot, but also on the support. And for that we are in the right place at RoboJob. It’s been years since we’ve seen a technician from RoboJob here, and in fact, that’s the way it should be.”
— Tom De Craecker
Frequently asked questions
Which machine did De Craecker Matrijzen automate with RoboJob?
De Craecker Matrijzen in Lede, Belgium, automated a Mazak QTN 30 lathe with a RoboJob Turn-Assist Essential in June 2012, making it one of RoboJob’s first customers in Belgium.
Can a Mazak Quick Turn Nexus lathe be automated?
Yes. De Craecker Matrijzen runs a RoboJob Turn-Assist Essential on a Mazak QTN 30. POK automates three QTN 250 lathes and Ackermann Metallwaren a QTN 150. See all Mazak automation projects.
Can one robot serve two CNC machines?
Yes. In 2012, De Craecker Matrijzen was the very first RoboJob customer to have its robot shuttle between two machines, a Mazak QTN 30 and a Mazak SQT 200 M. RoboJob worked out the solution together with De Craecker.
How reliable is a RoboJob robot cell?
Very. De Craecker Matrijzen’s RoboJob Turn-Assist Essential never broke down in its first nine years. The robot is also robust: after an accidental collision, it returns to its home position at the push of a button and goes straight back to work.
Can RoboJob service help without a technician on site?
Yes. De Craecker Matrijzen solves most issues itself with RoboJob’s clear manuals. Once or twice a year, it calls the RoboJob Service Team and is helped immediately by phone, so production does not have to wait for a technician.